Mystic Valley Parkway, Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston MPS

Mystic Valley Parkway is a river parkway of just under five miles that follows the Aberjona River, the Mystic Lakes and the Mystic River through Winchester, Medford, Arlington and Somerville, Massachusetts. Planned as part of Boston's metropolitan park system, it was first taken by the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1895, construction began in 1896, and it opened to traffic in September 1897. The road was built 36 feet wide and lit by 66 lights spaced 200 feet apart. Charles Eliot had urged public acquisition of the lake shores to guard against suburban subdivision and pollution. Today the nominated route includes four segments, along with features such as Nelson Circle, the 1936-37 Mystic River Bridge and the Meadow Brook Culvert. A later segment east of Armory Bridge was left out because Interstate 93 construction destroyed its integrity. The parkway is recognized for its roles in landscape architecture, engineering, conservation, recreation and transportation planning.